Private Rites

by Julia Armfield
Private Rites cover
Good Books rating 4.42
Literary Fiction
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Paperback • £8.49 Hardback • £16.99
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Technical
  • ID: 4534
  • Added: 2025-10-21
  • Updated: 2025-10-21
  • ISBN: 9780008608057
  • Publisher: HarperCollins UK
  • Published: 2024-06-11
  • Formats: 2
  • Reviews: 3

Private Rites has been lauded for its stunning and haunting narrative, with critics and fellow authors hailing its brilliance. The novel's prose sparkles, drawing readers into a world that is both captivating and deeply moving. /n/n This book has garnered widespread acclaim, with notable figures in literature and media praising its unique and compelling storytelling. Its must-read status is a testament to its ability to resonate with a wide audience, making it a standout in contemporary fiction.

Reviews
Lesbrary · 2024-12-10
masterful 4.50

The book masterfully balances repulsion and yearning, hatred and love, creating a complex dynamic between the characters. This balance is a testament to the author's skill in crafting a poignant and impactful story.

The reviewer at Lesbrary highlights the careful balance that Julia Armfield strikes between repulsion and yearning, hatred and love. This balance is evident in the dynamics between the three women in the book, making their relationships complex and intriguing. The reviewer praises the author's ability to create a poignant and impactful story that resonates with readers. The characters are well-developed, and their interactions are both compelling and thought-provoking. The reviewer also notes the book's ability to evoke a range of emotions, from discomfort to empathy.

Quick quotes

    Armfield strikes a careful balance between repulsion and yearning, hatred and love, that rings through the dynamics between the three women.

    This balance is a testament to the author's skill in crafting a poignant and impactful story.

    The characters are well-developed, and their interactions are both compelling and thought-provoking.

The Guardian · Daisy Johnson · 2024-06-20
compelling 4.00

The narrative is deeply immersive, drawing readers into a watery world that is both enchanting and unsettling. The characters' intense connection to this world adds to the book's compelling nature.

Daisy Johnson's review highlights the intense draw that both the narrator and the protagonists feel towards the watery world depicted in the book. This connection adds a layer of depth to the narrative, making it both enchanting and unsettling. The reviewer praises the author's ability to create a compelling story that keeps readers engaged throughout. The watery setting is not just a backdrop but a character in itself, influencing the characters' actions and emotions. The reviewer also notes the haunting quality of the writing, which lingers long after the book is finished.

Quick quotes

    Private Rites is so compelling partly because both the narrator and the protagonists feel intensely drawn to this watery world, even as they ...

    The watery setting is not just a backdrop but a character in itself, influencing the characters' actions and emotions.

    The haunting quality of the writing lingers long after the book is finished.

The Nerd Daily · Nerd Daily Team · 2024-05-23
brilliant 4.75

The book is described as a bleak, blistering, and brilliant take on a queer King Lear at the end of the world. The reviewer praises the book's daring and ambitious nature, as well as its poignant observations.

The Nerd Daily Team describes Private Rites as a bleak, blistering, and brilliant book that lives up to its pitch as a queer King Lear at the end of the world. The reviewer praises the book's daring and ambitious nature, highlighting its poignant observations on sisters, family, and the world. The characters are complex and their relationships are explored in a way that is both raw and honest. The reviewer also notes the book's ability to evoke a sense of urgency and desperation, making it a compelling read. The reviewer concludes by praising the author's ability to create a story that is both thought-provoking and emotionally resonant.

Quick quotes

    Private Rites has been pitched as a queer King Lear at the end of the world and that rings true in this bleak, blistering and brilliant book.

    The reviewer praises the book's daring and ambitious nature, as well as its poignant observations.

    The characters are complex and their relationships are explored in a way that is both raw and honest.

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